Apply for Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid is an annual process that determines what types and amounts of financial assistance you may qualify to receive. Starting this process as early as possible is essential to ensuring that you maximize your opportunities.

Full Description

The Financial Aid Application Process

Step One: The Application

•The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application becomes available on January 1 for the upcoming year. We strongly encourage you to apply online by March 1 to receive full consideration for financial aid.

•You need to obtain a Department of Education Personal Identification Number (PIN). Your PIN serves as an e-signature. Both students and parents can obtain a PIN.

•Go to www.pin.ed.gov to apply for a PIN. Providing your email address will expedite the receipt of your PIN; otherwise it will be mailed.

The financial aid process at Kennedy-King begins with you submitting the FAFSA via www.FAFSA.ed.gov. You should not wait until you are admitted to the college of your choice to apply for financial aid. We suggest you include the school code for Kennedy-King College, and any other colleges you may be interested in attending.

Kennedy-King College School Code:

001654

Step Two: Follow-up

•If you provided an email address when you applied, you will receive your SAR by email within 3–5 days after your FAFSA has been processed, this email will contain a secure link so you can access your SAR online. If you have a "junk" folder or "spam" folder in your email files, check it. The Department of Education encourages you to add their email address, FederalStudentAidFAFSA@cpsemail.ed.gov, to your email address book to help avoid delivery problems.

•If you do not provide an email address when you apply, you will receive a paper SAR by mail within 7–10 days after your FAFSA has been processed. Whether you apply online or by paper, the Department of Education will automatically send your data electronically to the schools you listed on your FAFSA.

Kennedy-King will receive your information electronically from the Department of Education and will use the information to determine your financial aid eligibility. It is your responsibility to review your SAR to ensure that the information is correct. Please review your SAR to determine whether you are required to submit additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office. For example, you may be required to submit additional documentation, under the following circumstances:

•Selected for Verification

•Applicant Not in Selective Service Database

•Citizenship Status could not be Confirmed

•Missing Information

•Etc.

Keep your SAR for your records.

In addition, the Financial Aid Office will review your application and notify you if additional documents are required. It is very important that you respond to inquiries by the Financial Aid Office in a timely manner. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the processing of your financial aid. Please make sure that your address is correct with the Financial Aid and Admissions Offices.

Step Three: The Notification Process

You will receive an Award Notification Letter via U.S. Postal.

Step Four: Disbursement

For the Fall and Spring terms, multiple disbursements of financial aid dollars will occur throughout the payment period/term. The first half of the disbursement will be scheduled 4-6 weeks after the term begins and the remaining disbursement will be scheduled two weeks after mid-term.

For the Summer term, 100% of the disbursement will be scheduled 2 weeks after mid-term.

City Colleges of Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability in all educational
and vocational programs, services, activities, and employment. EEO Office